The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-07
THE FRESH AIR SOCIETY.
What Is Proposed to be Done by the
Society,"

To the Editor of the Press:
The Fresh Air Society,"" which has for
its object the happiness and health of those
of our city who are unfortunate enough to
have lost one, perhaps both, have at last
sprung from society in prospective to a
society active, strong and ready to UNDER
take any work for the furtherance of its
cause.
Before making its maiden bow to the pub
lie and presenting its somewhat formidable
list of officers and committees, the Fresh
Air Society would fain explain its origin
lest some of the citizens of oar fair CITY
should turn from the opening words of this
article with shrug of the shoulders that
most plainly says, 81 care to know nothing
more. Portland already has more charities
than she can support" We do not apologize
for existing; like Topsy, we "were not
made; we growed"; and the reason for our
growth was this: In March of this year of
grace, 1887, certain generous-hearted gen.
tleman, whose love for the poor children of
our city has shown itself many times in kind
acts, came to the directors of the Fraternity
offering them the sum of $500, to be used by
them in furnishing summer excursions to
those from our city's little ones, not other
wise provided for. The offer was at first
warmly accepted, but ON deliberation the
president of the Fraternity, Colonel Earring
ton, went to the gentleman above referred to.
Mr.. Ira f. Clark, and asked him if he would
allow this money to be used for the purpose
of sending sick poor children for weeks
outing in the country. Mr. Clark's warm
heart quickly responded and to make it pos
sible to give this weeks outing to even more
children than could be sent by his gift. He
agreed to allow his money to be so used. If
before the first Of June, the sum could be
doubled and $500 take the place of the 5000
Col. Harrington agreed and turned, as men
sometimes do, toward the weaker sex to helm
him carry out his plan, thinking perhaps
that while their ways of charming the al
mighty dollar from mans pocket are past
finding out, they are often wonderfully use
full when. as in this case, the money is so
much needed.
A meeting was called.through the papers
and several ladies and one gentleman re-
sponded. The plan and brief outline of
the work to be done was given, and the meet
ing adjourned with the understanding that
before another meeting should be called
each lady should try to interest her friends
in making up the required sum-
AS a result at the next meeting it was re-
ported that little over a hundred dollars
had been raised the greater part of it by one
energetic lady whose heart is in the work.
That meeting found our numbers much in
creased and the interest growing, but as vet
we have not the necessary sum. Juneis fast
following her sister May, and we turn to our
friends, the public, to ask for help. The
cause Is such good one. Some will saw on
hrst thought, I'VE did, what does Portland
with her Promenades, her Islands, and her
fresh lnvlgorating breeZeS from Casco Bay
need OF Fresh Air FUND.-" Precisely SO.
Ior those OF us who can and do have the time
TO enjoy them, there is no place more pleas
ant for summer home. But there are those.
even In our little city, who have been for
months bending over sewing machine. or
breathing the air of one close room a mother
VINO IS breaking down under hard work re-
cessary to keep her children clothed and fed.
or child who, after suffering for
weeks with the poison of diphtheria,
because the needed "change Of air" which
VIII DO what medicine cannot in bringing
life and strength to the little frame cannot
be had without money. And there is no
money beyond what must furnish food and
shelter. These and many others will be
helped, perhaps made well and strong by a
lew weeks spent breathing the country air.
and the rest that will come for some who can
never rest in their own homes.
One plan mentioned is to have home. a
farm house in neighboring county. with a
kind-hearted man and his wife to keen the
poor inyalids supplied with plain and whole
some food. They will take the children and
poor women for small sum per week, and
there are, we know, many people among us
who Will gladly pay the price of child's
board for week, that the sick boy or girl.
who has never seen the real true country''
with its sights and sounds, may have a hap
py week 70 dream and talk over in the hard
days of winter.
Any questions will be gladly answered and
any money that may be given, no matter how
small the Offering, if it be sent to any one Of
the officers or to the PRESS Office, and marked
Tor the Fresh Air Fund" will be thankful
ly received, acknowledged and used to do
good IN the name OF one who has said: SIN
asmucn as We. have ldone it unto one of the
least Of them" For the benefit of those in
terested we append the list of officers:
Presdent-Mrs. j. H. McMullen.
Vice President-Miss JEANNE erie.
Treasurer-Mr. T. G. Woodbury..
Secretary-Miss Sparrow.
Committee on finding the invalids-Misses
erie, swan, Belle Clark, Anna Milliken, Bessie
Brown, Mrs. McGregor, Mr. |. f. Clark, DR.. w. S.
Dana, Dr. A. 5. Thayer, DIR. King.
On ways and means-Mrs. MeMullen Mrs De-
Clifford. A''
On clothing-Mrs. Corning, Mrs. Horace Andar
son, Mrs. Henry Taylor Miss Julia Boyd. Mrs
Carney, Miss Sallie Brown.
On places-Col. Harrington, Miss Daveis. Mrs.
T. Z, woodbury., Mr.. Stockwell, Mrs. Frye.
On transportation-Mrs. f. e. Boothby Mrs a
+. French, Mrs. Payson Tucker, Mrs. +. Hamil
ton, Mrs Fred Hobson, Miss Z. L. Libby